It’s the question everyone is asking. Tillerson was relieved of his duties as Secretary of State early Tuesday. Donald Trump announced via Twitter that former U.S. Representative and CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be nominated to fill the position.

Tillerson served as Secretary of State for little more than a year and ruffled Trump’s feathers. He disagreed with the president fairly often, particularly when it came to North Korea, and was reported to refer to the president as a “moron.” But amid rumors of tension back in December, Trump tweeted that Tillerson’s job was safe.

The timing of the firing is conspicuous. It comes a day after Tillerson affirmed Moscow’s responsibility for the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. His statement was taken as a sign that the administration was toughening up its Russian rhetoric.

Less than 24 hours after the Secretary of State said Russia was behind the attack in London and the White House press secretary would not go that far, the Secretary of State finds himself out of work. Not good.

Multiple outlets have reported that Tillerson learned he was fired via Twitter. His social media pink slip seems like strong proof he was blindsided. If Trump knew he was firing Tillerson two days ago, why did he wait?

Russia collusion fever is a contagious Twitter superbug. When you buy into Russia collusion theory, every news story out of the Trump administration seems like proof that Donald Trump is puppeteered by Putin. Tillerson’s firing seems like another fever dream. But there seems to be real substance here. We’d be wrong to readily dismiss it.

People in power, particularly those in opposition to Trump, should explore whether Tillerson’s statements on Russia prompted his firing. With Trump’s history of placating Putin and Russia, the timing is certainly questionable. Democrats shouldn’t passively accept this turn of events. They should investigate what caused it.

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